| I also want to thank you, Nick for sharing your story. You never have to be apologetic for sharing anything here man... Yours have always been some of the most insightful and "humble" posts on any of these sites...
That said...I will start with my own "apology"...because I'm going to share a Maynard memory.
Back in the early 70's (as others have described)...and in the height of the power big band/rock/MF Horn album days.... Maynard "did" do all those tours to High Schools and such. He came to little old Alton, Illinois. 3 or 4 times!!! (this along with Buddy's band, Thad Jones, Woody, etc....amazing). Now, I will say that our music program was obviously progressive and vibrant. I suppose we all owe a debt of gratitude to our educators then who saw fit to have these bands visit our town.
As others have said...Maynard would hold sectionals with his band...and all the students could be there and even play right along with his guys. Not to mention the awe over Maynard, but these guys in the band were just as heroic to us as they were the guys on the records!!! WWOWOWOWOWOW! (funny...I've later gotten to work with many of these alumni...and it still tickles me to be in their presence).
Anyway... Maynard was always so cool. To do those sectionals, hang with the students and still go do an amazing concert that night.. wow. When I was in Junior High, I remember the first time he came (and this was true of all the times), the HS jazz band played first as an opener. (nerving, anyone? hahaha). Then, near the end of Maynard's concert...he brought them on stage to play Hey Jude along with his guys. Many of Maynard's players would stroll out to the audience and stand in the aisle to continue to play. 2 things I'll never forget...watching those HS kids turn every shade of red/purple/blue trying to hang in there on the repetitive ending choruses of that tune...and having Lin Biviano standing right next to me in the aisle blazing away. Maynard? Wild hair, big white teeth and all...was an absolute god. He was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. The way he talked...everything. I sat there with an old, bulky cassette recorder (these had just come out and I was able to get a cheapo one). I had that thing in my lap and got the whole show. It sounds terrible...horrible quality...and I even remember me yelling in exuberation when Biviano was next to me....haha. Embarassed by this, I erased those yelps on that tape so it sounds like a mess of audio hiccups. I am sure I still have those tapes...this will surely make me dig them out.
Anyway... ramble, ramble. I thank my parents, the educators (of which, by the way...my dad was one of) for the opportunity to see this legend so many times. Incalculable was the impact that had on me...and the other musicians in attendance. |